Bengals free-agent tight end Irv Smith Jr. reached agreement a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Related Players: Travis Kelce

Cincinnati seemed like a positive landing spot for Smith last season but fantasy goodness did not come to fruition. This impacts Noah Gray dynasty shares more than it does Travis Kelce's immediate outlook.

K.J. Osborn racked up 56 of his 73 receiving yards in the Vikings' game-winning drive, taking advantage of the Lions' consistent double-teaming of Justin Jefferson.

Related Players: Irv Smith Jr.

Osborn more than doubled his season total of receiving yards on the last drive, but as the article mentions, this was not a fluke. Kirk Cousins was quoted after the game, “In the two-minute (drill), you sort of have guys in their spots. And you don’t really move people around. It ends up being a more organic way of getting people the football. It just kind of happens. Whoever’s open. And that’s what happened last year with K.J. a lot in two-minute. He was now in primary spots, where during the normal game he was in secondary and tertiary spots, if you will.”

It's not often Jefferson will be held to a 3-14-0 stat line, but Osborn is emerging as the team's third receiving option, and if Cousins continues to attempt 40+ passes, there is fantasy value in that.

Vikings Irv Smith Jr, expected to be ready for Week 1.

Smith hurt his thumb Aug. 1. The tweet said he's returned to catching balls over past several days. It added that he said: “It feels good. I’m getting back in the groove of things. I’ve been out a few weeks now, so just getting back into football conditioning.” The Vikings can use another option with some of their WR injuries.

Smith underwent surgery on his thumb earlier this offseason, but head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters today that he may avoid missing any time during the regular season.

Related Players: Johnny Mundt, K.J. Osborn

This comes as a relief for fantasy players who miss out on the top-tier of tight ends. All we need is one less option at our disposal in the double-digit rounds. If Irv Smith Jr. is healthy from the start, he makes for an interesting post-hype breakout candidate after he was forced to miss most of the 2021 season due to a torn meniscus. Former Viking Tyler Conklin was able to turn in a TE16 finish on what we presume was a much more run-heavy offense than what the 2022 Minnesota Vikings offense will look like.

After the team announced starting tight end Irv Smith Jr. would miss the preseason with a thumb injury, starting running back Dalvin Cook left the practice field with what appeared to be a hand injury. He returned for one team snap and then sat out the rest of Tuesday's practice at TCO Performance Center.

Later, his backup, Alexander Mattison, also appeared to injure a finger on a play. He, too, watched the rest of practice from the sideline.

And a third running back, Kene Nwangwu, suffered what coach Kevin O'Connell called a "soft-tissue, lower-leg injury" on Monday. Nwangwu sat out Monday and Tuesday.

There wasn't any other information but hopefully the injuries aren't serious. Cook, of course, is ranked high among running backs in terms of fantasy value, and we have him sixth on our running back list.

Vikings’ TE Irv Smith underwent thumb surgery today.

HC Kevin O'Connell expects him to be ready for start of the regular season, according to the rest of Schefter's tweet. Smith was a popular breakout candidate heading into last season but a torn meniscus ended his season in early September. In his place, Tyler Conklin was the fantasy TE16, and last year’s offense was likely more run-heavy than the 2022 version will be. In the 11 career games where Smith saw at least four targets, he averaged 3.7 receptions for 39 yards and 0.45 touchdowns (on 5.2 targets per game), which works out to 8.7 PPG. That’s about what Kyle Pitts averaged as last season’s TE5. A top-12 finish is definitely in play for Smith.

No surprise that K.J. Osborn locked into the No. 3 WR spot for Vikings.

Related players: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Olabisi Johnson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Irv Smith Jr.

Levitan said those who cover the team are expecting a bump in both pass rate and 3-WR sets with Kevin O'Connell in charge. So Osborn could end up having some fantasy value. However he'll have to battle target monsters Jefferson and Thielen, and perhaps also the return of Smith Jr. at tight end. The post also indicated Smith-Marsette is the WR4 right now.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell addressed TE Irv Smith Jr.'s role heading into his first season leading the team. "I know there were a lot of folks excited about him last fall before that injury," O'Connell said. "He's going to be a major part of what we do."

O'Connell also added that the team has to be careful with his return from his knee injury.

It is hype season, but with Tyler Conklin in New Jersey and little competition for targets, Smith has a chance to (finally) take the step forward that was expected prior to injury in 2021.

Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. is out 4-5 months after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Related Players: Tyler Conklin, Chris Herndon

The Chris Herndon acquisition by Minnesota confirms the rumors of an extended absence for Smith. Sadly, this surgery and its recovery timeline likely mean Smith will miss the 2021 season.

Vikings TE Tyler Conklin has the wrapping off his injured hamstring.

Related players: Irv Smith Jr.

Thomasson added all indications are Conklin could be doing some practicing this week. He also added that's good news with Smith Jr. hurt and potentially missing some time. We have Conklin next up on the depth chart behind Smith Jr.